October 2015 Mod Read_FORECLOSURE

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I started reading this yesterday, for review in the Partners in Crime book blog tour. It occurred to me that this title would be an appropriate Mod Read.

"It's just business—but it’s about to get personal for hard-nosed lawyer David Friedman when the housing crash of 2008 derails his shot at partnership with Southwest Florida’s most prestigious law firm. Given a year to prove he can make rain during Florida’s economic drought, David rolls up his sleeves and lands the client of his dreams—Frank O'Reilly, a real estate developer embroiled in dozens of lawsuits and hell-bent on turning a profit during the recession. Little does David know that Frank's company is involved in a murderous plot to cover up years of mortgage fraud in the Sunshine State.

As David prepares for a trial that will make or break his career, he discovers that a secret investor in Frank’s company is responsible for murder and will continue killing to hide the truth. The only thing David can’t figure out is whether Frank is the conspiracy’s victim or its mastermind. To answer that question, David must risk far more than partnership as he unravels one dark secret after another about his client, his law firm, and, ultimately, himself."

I'm sure our attorney members can relate to this. Commercial litigator David Friedman has worked punishing hours for seven years in order to make junior partner; but on cusp of 2008, his dream fails. He's already lost his future wife; his dream of blues guitar like his dad, long ago shunted aside. Now his partnership hope has dissolved. So will he resign? Or will David jump through another year of hoops designed by the philandering, often intoxicated, managing partner?

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David perceives that he has been betrayed, cheated, by the partners, particularly the managing partner. His choices now are three: bill even more hours for the calendar year of 2008, providing yet more immense profits for the partners; resign; or get revenge. He chooses extortion, of the managing partner and the other senior partner, and corporate espionage on a potential client bank, of an account handled by the man who is David's ex-girlfriend's current boyfriend. He seems determined to take down everyone who's crossed him!

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I enjoyed the novel, but I was never sure how to feel or think about the protagonist, David Friedman. I tried to empathize, but he often seems so emotionless and robotic [witness his "speech" about how everything is business, all choices are actually business decisions (I.e., survival, money, greed, "getting ahead.") And all this delivered to his former girlfriend] . Then, as revenge against his firm, he takes on a client he should have left well enough alone. It's almost like he's living out a death wish.

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Comments and thoughts on Foreclosure: A Novel, the author, S.D. Thames, or his other titles are welcome.